Department for Education

Teachers: Training

Lord Carrington: To ask His Majesty's Government why funding is only available for the external provision of the Early Career Framework for teachers and not school-based provision.

Baroness Barran: All state funded schools offering statutory induction receive funding to deliver the early career framework (ECF) reforms. In addition to their core funding to cover the cost of time off timetable for early career teachers (ECTs) in year one of induction, schools also receive funding which covers 5% off timetable for ECTs in year two of induction, for induction activities including ECF based training and mentor sessions. This funding also covers a dedicated mentor for each ECT, based on 20 hours of mentoring in year two of induction.The department wants all ECTs to have access to high-quality ECF based training, so schools can choose to use a Department for Education funded training provider. The content of the providers’ programmes has been quality assured by the department and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). The quality of delivery of the programmes is also quality assured separately through Ofsted inspection. If a state funded school uses a Department for Education funded training provider, the department funds the training delivered to ECTs and their mentors by the provider, and provides additional funding to backfill the mentor time spent undertaking funded provider-led training, meaning that there is no cost for these schools.To ensure that schools have choice and flexibility, they have the option of delivering their own ECF based training programme. For schools who choose this approach, they can choose to use the department’s accredited materials and resources, which have been independently assessed by the EEF to ensure their fidelity to the ECF. These materials are freely available to schools via the department’s ‘Manage training for early career teachers’ service, available at: https://manage-training-for-early-career-teachers.education.gov.uk/.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what representationsthey have made to the Zimbabwean government concerning thebanning ofopposition party rallies.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the Minister for Development and Africa said to President Mnangagwa on 5 May, it is important that Zimbabwe's upcoming elections are peaceful and credible. The UK regularly calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure that political opposition and civil society are able to operate freely. On 3 May, the UK's Ambassador to Zimbabwe publicly underlined that the fundamental rights of assembly and expression are enshrined in Zimbabwe's constitution.

Obey Shava

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what representationsthey havemade to the Zimbabwean government concerning the physical attack on Obey Shava at his Shava Law Chambers on 5 July.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is aware of an attack on human rights lawyer, Obey Shava, on 5 July. We note the ongoing police investigation into the attack. As the Minister for Development and Africa said to President Mnangagwa on 5 May, the UK would like to see the Government of Zimbabwe meet its international and domestic obligations by safeguarding human rights and allowing space for political opposition and civil society organisations to operate, particularly in the run up to elections on 23 August.

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Lord Carlile of Berriew: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made tothe government of China concerning the bounties offered for the capture of three residents of the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: On 13 July, at the Foreign Secretary's instruction, his senior official conducted a formal démarche of the Chinese Ambassador. The senior official set out our strong objections to actions in Hong Kong in recent weeks, including the issuing of arrest warrants and bounties for eight individuals living overseas, three of whom live in the UK, as well as the detention and questioning of the family members of some of those individuals in Hong Kong. We also expressed our ongoing opposition to the imposition of the National Security Law by Beijing on Hong Kong, which is a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of whether the election in Zimbabwe in August will be free and fair.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the Minister for Development and Africa said to President Mnangagwa during their meeting on 5 May, it is important that the people of Zimbabwe can choose their government through peaceful and credible elections. Independent observation by international and domestic missions, including Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), will play an important role in assessing electoral conduct against regional and international standards. The UK welcomes Zimbabwe's announcement that invitations have been sent to observer missions.

Libya: Migrants

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what practical steps they are taking to achieve the closure ofmigrant detention centresin Libya and the repatriation of detainees.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards and to avoid any action that may endanger human life. We continue to monitor the abuse of migrants and refugees in Libya and the inhumane conditions in detention centres. The UK supported the mandate for the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya to asses human rights abuses, including violations in detention centres. We continue to urge the interim Government of National Unity to take steps to end the exploitation and abuse of migrants and to implement a better functioning system that respects human rights. We support the UN's call for detention centres across Libya to be closed, and call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

EU Countries: Arts

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the ease of UK-based artists' and musicians' ability to travel to work in the EU.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government recognises the cultural and economic value of the creative industries to the UK-EU relationship. The UK Government has worked closely with industry to help UK artists adapt to this new regulatory environment and continues to engage with stakeholders to understand their priorities.The Government has engaged with EU Member States on their entry requirements for touring artists. The vast majority of Member States (24 out of 27) have confirmed that UK musicians and performers do not need visas or work permits for some short-term touring. This includes Greece, who announced a visa exemption for touring artists this June. We continue to call on the remaining Member States to make their arrangements as generous as the UK's.

Hong Kong: Judges

Lord Carlile of Berriew: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the involvement of retired UK judges in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeals, given the bounties placed by the government of Hong Kong on three residents of the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK judges that remain on Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal are retired from UK judicial service. The UK judiciary and legal profession are independent from the UK Government. As private citizens, It is for the individuals concerned to make their own personal decisions on their continued service in Hong Kong.

Department for Business and Trade

Batteries: Lithium

Lord Rogan: To ask His Majesty's Government what research, if any, they have commissioned into the fire risk to public safety of lithium-ion batteries in e-scooters and e-bikes; and if so, whether this will be published.

The Earl of Minto: The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has established a safety study to understand the data and evidence of the risks presented by e-bikes and e-scooters. This includes investigating incidents and taking enforcement action when needed, commissioning research, targeting unsafe products at the border and providing public safety information. A research project on batteries has been contracted with Warwick Manufacturing Group, part of Warwick University and a centre for innovation in science and technology. This will examine the safety of the lithium-ion batteries within Personal Light Electric Vehicles. The research will be published in due course once completed.

Batteries: Wales

Lord Wigley: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Wales concerning the development of a battery gigafactory in Wales.

The Earl of Minto: The Department for Business and Trade regularly engage with the Devolved Governments to discuss the successful transition to electric vehicles in the UK automotive industry.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UK Trade with EU: Northern Ireland

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to producea list of goods that are eligible to use the Green Lane under the Windsor Framework.

Lord Benyon: Guidance was published on gov.uk on 9 June for the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme including details of eligible goods. The government will continue to work closely with traders as the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme arrangements are developed.

Department of Health and Social Care

Abortion: Drugs

Lord Moylan: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the safety of abortion pills being sent by post.

Lord Markham: The Government has no current plans to commission a review into the practice of sending pills for women to carry out early medical abortion at home.

Home Office

Visas: British Nationals Abroad

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government with how manycountries the UK has visa-free travel arrangements for UK citizens.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: UK passport holders can travel visa free to 153 countries and territories. Information on entry requirements for each country can be found at Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Carers

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to thebook by Kate Andersen Welfare That Works for Women? Mothers’ Experiences of the Conditionality within Universal Credit, published in January, what assessment they have made of theirdecision to introduce automated sanctions and intensify the conditionality regime for lead carers.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: No assessment has been made. There are no plans to automate sanctions. However, we have automated the creation of the referral form for claimants who miss mandatory appointments. The referral form will be reviewed by the Work Coach before submitting to the Decision Maker in the normal way. By introducing the conditionality changes, we are providing increased opportunities for lead carers to engage with their work coach and work-related activity to help them prepare and move towards employment. As with all policies, we will review these changes to ensure that they are effective and meet the policy intent.

Treasury

Financial Services: Fraud

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have tointroduce new (1) legislation, or (2) regulatory guidelines, addressing AI-driven fraud in the financial sector.

Baroness Penn: The Government is aware of the fraud risks posed to the public from technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, including deepfakes. The Government is engaging with leading tech companies through its upcoming Online Fraud Charter to agree voluntary commitments from the sector to prevent fraud and keep their users and customers safe. This includes assessing the current and future risks and opportunities around AI. Tackling fraud requires a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and the private sector to better protect the public and businesses from fraud, reduce the impact of fraud on victims, and increase the disruption and prosecution of fraudsters. This is why the Government recently published a new strategy to address the threat of fraud.  We will work with industry to remove the vulnerabilities that fraudsters exploit, with intelligence agencies to shut down fraudulent infrastructure, with law enforcement to identify and bring the most harmful offenders to justice, and with all partners to ensure that the public have the advice and support they need.

Parcels: Northern Ireland

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to thePostal Packets (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023, why parcels sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be subject to customs paperwork and declarations.

Baroness Penn: Parcels sent from or to a consumer in Northern Ireland will not require customs declarations, tariffs or presentation of goods to customs authorities. This will mean consumers in Northern Ireland will be able to receive parcels from Great Britain without burdens. The Windsor Framework also enables movements of parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland businesses to use the new Green Lane, subject to the same conditions as freight movements. This will ensure that these goods will no longer be required to move on the basis of international customs requirements. Had it been fully implemented, the old Northern Ireland Protocol would have required full customs declarations for all parcel movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what level of responsibility hauliers have in ensuring thatcommodity codes are correct on consignments going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Baroness Penn: When fully implemented from 30 September 2024, the new Windsor Framework arrangements will remove the need to provide a commodity code for each movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, for traders who are part of the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS). Instead, traders will be able to provide a simple goods description to the Trader Support Service (TSS) or their customs agent. When making a goods movement, most traders will provide data about the movement either to their haulier or directly to the TSS or their customs agent, who will submit the required data to HMRC. The trader will be responsible for ensuring that this data is correct. It is a commercial choice for the parties involved whether they make further contractual arrangements to manage liability.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Manufacturing Industries: Energy

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to provide (1) stable, and (2) affordable, energy supply for manufacturers.

Lord Callanan: The Government will continue to work closely with Ofgem, the gas and electricity system operators and all relevant stakeholders to ensure we have the maximum tools available to secure our energy supply for winter 23/24. For example, the T-1 Capacity Market auction has secured 5.8GW of electricity capacity for the delivery year 2023/24, bringing the total to 53.8GW. The REMA programme will assess options for delivering an enduring market framework that works for our businesses, industry, and households. The government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK's energy transition are fair and affordable for all consumers. The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will continue to provide energy support to businesses until March 2024.

Drax Power: Renewables Obligation

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with OFGEM regarding the time taken to launch its investigation into allegations, first aired by BBC Panorama in October 2022, that Drax Power Limited was in breach of the Renewables Obligation Scheme.

Lord Callanan: The Government engages regularly with Ofgem, as they are the Renewable Obligations Scheme’s scheme administrator. Ofgem has assured us that this matter is a priority for them and they are progressing the investigation at pace.